The seventh release and sixth official episode of The Always Rational Kpop Episode is here and it’s a bit of a doozy. We spend a lot of time talking about comeback news and the fact that Block B hasn’t completely disappointed us. We apologize for any inferiority in the recording as Noelle’s computer was experiencing complications from a heart murmur. I also will apologize for my accent dipping in and out and changing, I don’t know what happened there. Our “Free Talk” considers the American advance that everyone seems to be coveting so badly.

Big Bang puts up a poll for where their global tour should go, ignores Australia, New Zealand, the entire continent of Africa, and the Caribbean/West Indies, but whateves, such is life.

Jaejoong does a “tell all” interview & Noelle speculates on the identity of his four girlfriends since debut.

Leading into our main topic is the following performance on 100 points out of 100 that Brian Joo (formerly of Duo Fly to the Sky) apologized profusely on twitter for.

We talk about KARA’s amazingly unexpected success in Japan, the supposed approaching end of their contract dispute issues and the fact that no one would’ve predicted their explosive success when it was announced that they’re going up against SNSD for the hearts and minds of the Japanese idol music listening public.

The Music Video that launched the phenomenon and their music career in Japan.

Lastly, we follow up our Kara/SNSD Japanese advance discussion with a lengthy one on the proposed American debuts of Rania, U-KISS, 2NE1, Wonder Girls, etc. This discussion mostly popped into my mind when I was reflecting on KARA’s overcoming their underdog status and I began to wonder if the group/solo artist that manages to truly extend the Hallyu wave to the US will end up being someone we don’t expect.

However, if they’re going to move into a market where the media can completely ruin careers, the truth of the matter is the Korean Music Industry is going to need to clean itself up, a point that Time Magazine pointed out over a full decade ago.

We also touch quite vaguely on Asian-American artists that are extending their popularity on Youtube and on the charts, and the advantages either group has as well as their disadvantages.

The last segment is a bit we’re going to continue doing per episode, just a brief spotlight on artists that have been out of the mainstream eye for a few years, whose music isn’t quite what you get from idols. Comprised of DJ Clazzi, Horan & Alex Chu (of We Got Married Season 1 fame) and known as Clazziquai Project, they’ve been active since 2004 with the release of Instant Pig. Their music is a combination of Electronic, Acid Jazz and House & here are a few examples.

Sweety featuring a young man that would’ve eventually become Top Star Lee Junki.

And a few videos from their last release Mucho Punk

Lastly, them performing one of their Most Well known songs “Romeo & Juliet”

Feel free to consume every music video you can find on Fluxus’ channel, their artists are amazing, talented, and they try different styles of music you might not find in the mainstream.